All the Devils' hottest news, from notes to numbers to neutral-zone traps

Friday, January 3, 2014

The Devils have placed left wing Mattias Tedenby on non-roster waivers. If he is unclaimed by another team before noon Saturday, he will be assigned to Albany of the AHL, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said.

Placing Tedenby on non-roster waivers allowed the Devils to activate left wing Ryan Carter from injured reserve (which they did this afternoon) for tonight's game against Chicago. Carter has been out since Nov. 30 with a right knee injury.

If the Devils had placed Tedenby, 23, on regular waivers, they would have had to wait until noon Saturday before activating Carter. This is detailed in the collective bargaining agreement under Article 16.12b (posted below).

"The only thing it means is it allows us to activate a player today," Lamoriello explained. "What the non-roster waivers means, is if an injured player becomes available prior to a roster spot being available you can make (a spot) available by putting it as a non-roster (move). And what that means is he would go to the minors if he clears waivers. (Tedenby) would go down because Carter is healthy."

Tedenby, the Devils' 2008 first-round draft pick, has had a disappointing season with just one goal and no assists in 15 NHL games and has failed to earn the confidence of head coach Pete DeBoer. He got another chance after right wing Damien Brunner injured his right knee on Dec. 20 against Anaheim, playing in three consecutive games, but failing again to register a point.

Tedenby was assigned to Albany for conditioning on Dec. 12 and played in two AHL games, putting up three goals and one assist. Lamoriello is hoping that getting to play regularly in Albany -- if he is not claimed by another NHL team -- will help Tedenby find his game and force his way back into the NHL.

"I want to see Teddy go down and be the best player and then what he does is he forces himself to get in the lineup," Lamoriello said.

Devils coach Pete DeBoer clearly has not been happy with what he's gotten from Tedenby and center Jacob Josefson -- the team's 2009 first-round pick. DeBoer spoke Wednesday about how the defensemen will force him to make difficult lineup decisions because how well they've played, but he wished he had as similar problem at forward.

"Up front, we haven’t had to make enough tough decisions because of the injuries and because of some guys’ play," DeBoer said. "I’d like to have to make more tough decisions up front.”

Josefson, who has no goals and one assist in 16 games this season, remains on the roster, but Lamoriello said he too has to do more to take advantage of the chances he's given.

"I think Jacob's been working hard and when he gets the opportunity he has to make the most of it," Lamoriello said. "I think that's all Pete is asking of him. That's all. Pete is not asking him anything different than what he's asking anybody else. All he's saying is he needs somebody to grab a hold of one of these positions when the opportunity is there and they have to understand that."

On the other hand, rookie wing Reid Boucher has been doing what DeBoer has asked of him -- even when playing on the fourth line.

"That's exactly why he's still here," Lamoriello said. "You're here to win and Boucher has come in and given us a lift. It's no different than when Cam Janssen came in. You reward for accountability and I support that 100 percent."

***Carter will play tonight for the first time since he sprained his right MCL falling after his fight with Buffalo's Marcus Foligno. Left wing Patrik Elias, who is still sore from a hit from Pittsburgh's Tanner Glass, won't play tonight. Lamoriello said he is "day to day."

Lamoriello said the original estimate of "approximately four weeks" for Brunner's recovery remains the same, but the good news is "the progress has been a little quicker than expected."

Brunner, who did not require surgery, is about halfway through that four-week timetable now.

***Here is the exact language of Article 16.12b on non-roster waivers and how it is permitted in cases where a player is returning from injured reserve (Carter) and the team is already at the 23-player limit.Article 16.12 (b)

"If, as a result of: (i) a Player ("Player A") returning to a Club's Active Roster from Injured Reserve, or (ii) a Club acquiring a Player ("Player A") via a Trade or Waiver claim, the Club would exceed its twenty-three (23) man Active Roster limit then, at the time the Player ("Player A") returns to the Club's Active Roster (in the case of (i)) or is added to the Club's Active Roster (in the case of (ii)), the Club may request Waivers on a different Player ("Player B") and also the Club can simultaneously request Non-Roster status for such "Player B." Such request shall be made in writing to Central Registry, with a copy to the NHLPA, all in accordance with Exhibit 3.

"Upon approval of the Commissioner, such "Player B" will be removed from the Club's Active Roster and the Club may replace such "Player B" with "Player A" on its Active Roster pending the expiration of the Waiver period set forth in Section 13.18. During the period of time "Player B" is granted Non-Roster status, both "Player A's" and "Player B's" Player Salary and Bonuses are included in the Club's Actual and Averaged Club Salary and the Players' Share for purposes of Article 50. At the conclusion of the Waiver period for such "Player B," if he has not been claimed, the Club must immediately (i.e., that day) Loan "Player B" to the Minors."

About

TOM GULITTI has covered the New Jersey Devils for The Record since 2002. Prior to that, he covered the New York Rangers for four years. Gulitti joined The Record in 1998 after six years at The North Jersey Herald News. He graduated from Binghamton University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric-Literature.